These Broken Roads

Chapter 22: Moving Forward

~Natalie~

A few weeks had passed since E had stopped by. I had heard back from the community college, it was the first one I applied to. I was accepted and was going to take some courses in the summer. It was my back up though. I was still applying for bigger schools, hoping I'd get into one of those. Things were going really well for me, except one.

There is still an ache in my heart whenever I think of E. Everytime I see some roses or fold the laundry, his green eyes flash in my mind. Haley has been asking about him too, Nate had to explain why we can't see E anymore. She was really upset about that.

E was still trying to get me to forgive him. Even Quinn reached out to me. I let her know that if she needs anything to call me, but I didn't want E to get any ideas.

"Quinn I told you-"

"He's talking to someone, Natalie." Quinn said in a low voice.

Well that was fast.

"Good for him." I said as I finished folding the rest of the laundry. "I hope she's everything he wants."

"What?" Quinn questioned before she chuckled. "Oh. No, not like that. He's talking to a counselor about his jealousy and anger."

I nodded. "Well still. Good for him."

I will say that that is big for E. He's said before that he doesn't like to talk about his feelings. Maybe he really wants to change. That is really great for him and I wish him the best.

"Natalie I know that you and him-"

"Quinn. No." I said in a warning tone.

Quinn has been trying really hard to get me to talk to E.

"Natalie, he's really trying." Quinn said defensively.

I hadn't told Quinn what he said when I was sick, that would open up another conversation that I didn't feel like having. I didn't want to paint E in a bad light. He says stuff when he's angry to hurt people. Did he mean what he said? Most likely no, however he wanted to hurt me so he did say it.

"I know Quinn." I said with a sigh. "But I can't. I have to keep moving forward."

"I understand. I just...miss you." Quinn said, making my heart drop.

"I see you when you come into the diner." I said, trying to cheer her up. "Oh yeah, how are you and Amanda?"

Quinn was silent. Well that was probably not the thing to say.

"Amanda isn't going to the same high school." Quinn said sadly. "She's going to a private school."

"Around here?" I asked, sitting on the couch again.

"In the opposite direction." Quinn said. "It's like an hour from our house."

"That's not too bad." I said softly.

"It's bad when you have to depend on others for a ride." Quinn huffed. "Sixteen can't come fast enough."

I let out a light laugh. "I know how hard it is, but don't worry. You'll get through it."

"So will you and E." Quinn said with confidence.

"Quinn..."

"I've gotta go." Quinn said quickly, hanging up the phone.

I hung up the phone and then sat down on the couch. I've been drawing a lot more too. I find it really relaxing.

As I paged through my sketch pad I paused on the one of E. So handsome. His hair a little wavy across his forehead and even though I didn't color this one, I could see how bright his eyes were. He was looking down at his own drawing tablet, concentrating, so focused.